COTM20 First Spoiler - Ancient Age

[Karasu]

Here we are with the first spoiler -this time there should be more to talk about in the Ancient Age, unless you found a way to breeze to the Middle Ages in spite of the lower difficulty level...

So what happened? What kind of victory are you pursuing? Are things proceeding according to plan?

In order to participate to this thread, you need to:
- have reached the end of the Ancient Age, and
- have a good knowledge of the neighbouring landmasses, including the location of the four closest civs.

 

[killerkid]

I settled 1 square South of the starting location so I could get both cows and have a good balance of food and production in it. I explored, and discovered that we were hooked to a larger land mass by a single square. That was good, because I fortified a warrior there so no enemy could get onto my continent and steal my land. But, *sigh* I wasn't quick enough to expand and grab my whole area, as Japan came over with boats and took the South and North ends of it. Thank you Karasu for letting us have irragation (though it did take a while to get. My irragation source however, was not from the inland lake South of the start position because that would force me to mine a lot of grassland, which I do not like doing. So I got it from the river 3 squares into the other 2/3 of our land mass. (2/3 is a guess) I irragated all of my plains and my empire was doing well. The Aztecs had Xochalico founded 2 squares away from my warrior defending the bridge. So I countered it with Seattle on the square where my warrior was. I had a short war with them- mainly my swordsmen against his archers, spearmen, and jaguar warriors. I ended up capturing three of his cities, including Xochalico.
The Celts have a very large empire, and their score is better than mine. My plan for the MA is to have galleys go over there and drop MI, then attack. My MA started around 300 AD.

 

[McLMan]

I also settled 1S. Managed to get a LOT of the AA tech tree from goody huts, which let me do most of my research at min. Don't have the lead I'm used to having at Regent because I've been trading a lot of tech for little gold in an attempt to hurry the tech pace along. I have contact with all civs at this point. The way the map is laid out I like domination. I prefer long narrow strips to attack in because it helps me keep my forces concentrated, which I have trouble doing across a very wide front. The Aztecs declared war early when I didn't pay tribute. I didn't really do much other than kill the occasional warrior that came into my territory. It is now 290 AD and I just began a war with the Aztecs on my terms.

BTW, it didn't take me long to figure out the catch to this game which is going to make it a little tougher than a normal Regent game.

 

[Htadus]

Going for ?...Conquest seem to be the way to go or 100K culture.

Moved NE Couple turns

3900BC Establish Washington on coast, start on Alpha - 30 turn best
Scout goes north and circle washington. Bad continent
Build order scout, scout, settler

3000BC Advance civ join us- get New york- See green border to north
Micheavelle says we are the weakest. I know the competition, C, E,J,R,A,B, & S.
Second scout meet Aztecs
Trade Mason for Bronze+10g

2850BC scout learn CB from a village
2710BC Estab Boston south of Cap, Learn Alpa, Start on Writing in 24 turns.
1990BC Traded Alph to Aztec for WCode+20g and scout popped a town in the marsh.

Livy Says Japan is most advanced followed by celts and spanish and we are just above Babi in the bottom. Livy is on something.
1790BC Learned Writing, Est Embassy with Aztecs. Capitol is defended by one lone warrior. Hummm...
Establish Boston north of Cap during previous turn. Tenot is defended by a spear across a river, I back my two warriors off.
Also He is building the Pyramid. Mhanks Monte.

1600BC Meet Celts to SE. Brenna trade Wheel+20g for Alpha. Monte want both Writing+CB+81g for IW. No thanks.
1525BC Brenna has IW. Trade writing for IW+10g. Hell with Monti.
1425BC Establish Seattle on west coast next to iron. One turn to Philo.
1400BC Get MAP for free. Start on Construction.
1350BC Trade Philo to Branna for HB riding. Where are the horses? Celts start a Pyramid too.

1000BC 7 towns, 17 citiz, 6 warr, 1 sword & settler, 4 workers, and 2 Spears. Do not look good.

975BC Learn Math and start on Currency. Going to update the warriors.
950BC Establish San Fran between New york and Chicago.
825BC Establish Miami SW of Cap. Pop rush temple in NY.
775BC Establish Houston S of Boston, Changed phili from Temple to Settler in 4 turns.
630BC Established Buffalo in south to secure 2(3?) dye's.
590BC Monti complete the Pyramid. Time to say Hi.
End Day one.

490BC Meet Ceasar. He has Poly and I have math. See who else is on his continent before deal.
470BC Meet Japan. Trade Math to Japan for Poly+11g and to Ceasar for 170g.
250BC Establish Detroit to block Aztecs migrating south.
230BC Establish New Orleans to claim 2 Spices. Hope I can find Ivory.
190BC Establish Baltimore to secure 3 diamonds. Still building swords to go after Tenoch.
90AD Establish Conneticut S, Trade Lit + 75g to Aztec for Const, Trade Lit
to Rome for Monarchy +11g. Revolt and get 5 turn Anarchy.

Start on Feudalism, 24turns (+5)at 70% and -2gpt.
No horses any where. So I wonder if there are any other strategic resources out there? Very clever

 

[Più Freddo]

Going for anything but 20'000 Culture Points

I founded Washington one tile to the south in order to get away from
the many Plains tiles and to gain coast access. Build order 3xScout,
Granary, Settler, Curragh, Barracks. One chop went into the third
Scout, another into the Granary. After the first Settler, my
population was minimal and growing slowly, albeit faster with the
Granary. I knew The Wheel and had seen no Horses, so a Barracks let
the city grow in size and my Military Police Warriors would be
veterans for later upgrade.

Ours is a very queer continent, a challenge for any civilization. I
found, obviously, a source of Diamond in the north, and in the south
Iron to make steel for guns. The germs'll have to wait for Sanitation,
though. And do let's start with swords, shall we?


Results from nesting behaviour

3950 BC Found Washington
3550 BC Found New York
2710 BC Found Boston
2110 BC Found Philadelphia
1675 BC Found Atlanta
1625 BC First Cattle tile irrigated
1525 BC Found Chicago
1325 BC Found Seattle
1300 BC Found San Francisco
1275 BC Found Miami
1100 BC Found Houston, Optimal number of cities
925 BC Found Buffalo
730 BC Found Detroit
630 BC Found New Orleans
590 BC Found Baltimore​

Important here was of course getting the water in place. I took it
from the little lake in the south. I roaded the northernmost Jungle
tile to let a Settler pass to the next one and found a city there. I
then cut the Jungle and irrigated my may to the north using three
Workers for one-turn irrigation.


Results from ambulant behaviour

3550 BC Pop Hut Scout1: An advanced tribe has joined us
3200 BC Pop Hut Scout1: Bronze Working
3150 BC Pop Hut Scout3: A Warrior
3000 BC Pop Hut Scout2: The Wheel
2710 BC Pop Hut Scout2: Alphabet
2350 BC Pop Hut Scout2: Maps
2310 BC Pop Hut Scout4: 25 Gold
2070 BC Pop Hut Scout3: A Warrior
1475 BC Pop Hut Scout3: 50 gold​

Again I got a city with the first Hut.

3300 BC Meet Aztecs
2550 BC Meet Japan
1870 BC Meet Celts
1725 BC Meet Rome
1075 BC Curragh3 reaches the shores of a remote continent
1050 BC Meet X
1000 BC Meet Y
900 BC Embassy Celts​

I had two Curraghs drownded and floundered on their first turn on the
Ocean before the third one survived God knowns how many and made it
across.


Results from mystic behaviour

3300 BC Learn Warrior Code
3200 BC Learn Bronze Working
3000 BC Learn The Wheel
2710 BC Learn Alphabet
2550 BC Learn Ceremonial Burial
2110 BC Learn Iron Working
1870 BC Learn Mysticism
1830 BC Discover Writing
1075 BC Learn Map Making
1350 BC Discover Code of Laws
1150 BC Discover Philosophy
1150 BC Discover The Republic, Revolt
1050 BC Establish Republic
800 BC Discover Literature
590 BC Discover Currency
590 BC Learn Construction
590 BC Learn Engineering
590 BC Enter Middle Ages​

Status at 1000 BC

10 Cities
27 Citizens
6 Contacts
6 Workers
1 Slave
1 Scout
5 Warriors
3 Archers
2 Swordsmen
3 Curraghs

C&C still to be discovered.

4363 QSC Points


* * *

For the future, some more expansion is needed. Then we shall be led by
this ominous event: In 730 BC, The Pyramids were constructed in
Tenochtitlan. I hope to be able to withhold the construction of The
Great Lighthouse until after their capture in order to trigger a
Golden Age.

 

[denyd]

Abe sat comparing his last assignment to his new one and couldn’t help notice the similarity of lots of plans and not a spot of fresh water anywhere in sight. Cest la vie he sighed and he made his plans. Conquest it would be, with a few additional restrictions on city count and research. Also since this was a lesser challenge than he had faced in the past, he decided that the world wonders would one day be his. With these goals and restrictions in place, Abe closed his duffle bag and headed for the colony transport. He was quite happy to see that Lewis had been assigned to scout for him on this assignment as he had a brilliant history of contact and technology acquisitions.

With Washington founded and Lewis on his way south, Abe ordered research on Warrior Code and a brother scout for Lewis to be at the top of his capital’s agenda. Lewis was quite happy to discover a fresh water lake to the south. It was no river, but it would do for irrigation purposes, though some jungle would need to be removed first. With Clark heading north, Abe’s scouts quickly paid for themselves by acquiring Ceremonial Burial & Mysticism. A third scout (Boone) made the first contact with the Aztecs in 3100 BC. With the founding of New York in 2710 BC, Abe’s empire doubled and when a trade for Bronze Working was consummated, New York began construction of the Colossus.

Boone continued the scouting success stories by acquiring the Alphabet and after a trade for Iron Working from the Celts (met by Clark), a small city joined the empire (again thanks to Clark). Soon the discovery of Horseback Riding would lead to a trade for Writing. In 1350 BC New York completed the first wonder of the world, the Colossus. Work began on a building Abe hoped one day would become the Temple of Artemis and Boone continued his excellent work by acquiring Literature from a village. In 1250 BC after completing a trade with the Celt for Mathematics, Abe watched the Drake leave port in search of new lands. With the discovery of the Code of Laws, Abe set his thinkers to work on Philosophy and in 1075 BC when this research was complete, he received a bonus of the Republic; the same year the Drake contacted Rome. After a brief (3 turns) period of anarchy, in 1000 BC the Republic of America was born.

In 900 BC, Abe worked a deal with the Celts for Map Making and the Drake was refitted and loaded with a settler for the new world. After unloading this settler the Drake met Japan. With the discovery of Polytheism, Abe was closing in on the Middle Ages. A couple of blackmails (Aztecs for Mysticism & Celts for Code of Laws) convinced Abe that he’d need to begin upgrading his warriors to swordsmen. Without horses in sight it seemed that slow military expansion would be the name of this game. Soon another pair of wonders were completed, the Oracle in the Celt capital and the Pyramids in the Aztec capital. The discovery of Currency left Abe one stop from the next age. Gimli (the warrior) acquired Monarchy from a village and then Lewis pushed the Americans to the Middle Ages by acquiring Construction from another village in 370 BC. Things were going according to plan so far. The American Republic had yet to research any non-required technologies, all of the known wonders were either owned or within a swords reach. The Americans had founded 16 cities and had yet to begin feeling corruption. With a dozen swords available and another dozen on the way, the Aztec lands would soon be his. The Aztecs had yet to acquire either horses or iron, so the battles would be brief and bloody.

 

[Obormot]

Open
Going for conquest victory.

I don't have much time this month to seriously learn civ4, so i decided to play one more civ3 cotm I took open class this time because Lord Hamster is also going for a conquest victory this time and i didn't want to give such a strong player a 2-level advantage

I settled 1S and built 2 scouts and then a granary sped up by 1 forest chop which was completed 1 turn before growth. I popped a hut with teh southern scout hoping for a worker or a town and to my surprise i got a settler. I used him to found a city on the jungle tile 1 north of the lake. I then built 2 workers (1 in the capital and 1 in the new city for the irrigation project. This allowed to get the cows irrigated and set up a 6-turner before 2000BC. Then it was usual stuff of racing to Republic. I saved later huts and popped them all in one turn after discovering Writing hoping for a miracle (free CoL), but got rubbish this time. I got Republic slingshot in 1425BC and 4-turn anarchy on the first roll. I got polytheism from an AI and Construction from a hut and entered MA in 1000BC. One of my curraghs just reached the 3rd continent and i have all contacts except one. I have Lighthouse prebuild and aztecs seem to have best chances among the AI to get piramids (they started them first and have a great starting location), so i am hoping to have a GA.

QSC stats:
9 towns with 32 total population
11 workers
2 granaries and several barracks

 

[EsatP]

Open - tartar-mongol style
Victory - conquest > domination > milking
status at 1000BC
10 Cities (6 own, 1 from huts, 1 settler from huts, 2 from wars)
25 Citizens
4 Contacts
1 Settler
4 Workers
4 Slave
1 Scout
9 Warriors
2 Archers
1 Swordsmen
1 Curraghs - killed...

MA - 490BC

 

[denyd]

Oh great, thinking I might be able to sneak off with a second cow award, I find the #2 ranked player decides to go the same direction. With more than 30 hours played and into the mid 1900's it's too late to switch goals. I'll just finish this out and hope EsatP wins the lottery and elopes with Charlize Theron to Tahiti instead of finishing. Oh well at least I'll have the consolation of knowing we'll both have the same completion date.

 

[Fergurg]

My first COTM ever submitted, playing Conquest level. Going to try Domination. Also, I changed some of the city names and numbered all my military units.
All years are AD unless indicated.

3950 BC: Founded Washington.

3300 BC: 2nd Scout finds a hut to teach us Ceremonial Burial.

3200 BC: Washington completed Granary

2950 BC: Met the Aztecs. Traded Masonry and 29 gold for Warrior Code and Bronze Working.

2750 BC: Founded Brooklyn.

2590 BC: 1st Warrior finds a hut to teach us The Wheel.

2150 BC: 2nd Warrior found the Celts. We trade the Wheel for Mysticism and 10 gold.
Meanwhile, Washington completed its Temple.

1870 BC: Brooklyn completed its Temple.

1700 BC: Working my way south to found Boston.

1475 BC: Discovered Iron Working.

1450 BC: Founded Philadelphia in the eastern bottleneck.
Meanwhile, Washington completed its Barracks.

1200 BC: Founded Atlanta by the mountains.

1125 BC: Discovered Alphabet.

925 BC: Back down south, founded Seattle.
Aztecs tried to blackmail us. We refused, so they declared war.

875 BC: Boston completed its Temple.

825 BC: 1st Curragh finds Japan over on Eastern continent. Nothing exciting.

750 BC: Founded San Francisco in the southern area on the coast.

730 BC: Discovered Mathematics, while Brooklyn completed its Barracks. Aztecs tried to take Philadelphia, but the Spearmen beat them back.

590 BC: Rome contacted us. We trade them Mathematics for Writing and 112 gold.

570 BC: We trade Mathematics to Celts for Polytheism, Horseback Riding, and 24 gold.
Then we turn around and give Japan 30 gold. Might need them later.

490 BC: 5th Swordsman destroyed Aztec village of Teotihuacan.

450 BC: Celts demand 28 gold. We acquiesce.

410 BC: 5th and 6th Swordsmen destroyed Tlaxcala.

330 BC: Founded Miami on eastern coast of southern area. And we discovered Map Making, so we can build real boats.

210 BC: 5th Swordsman makes a leader, Washington.

170 BC: Philadelphia completed its Barracks for the war. But the war with the Aztecs ends. We gain Construction, 28 gold, and the village of Texcoco.

150 BC: Inspired by Leader Washington, Texcoco completed a Colosseum.

30 BC: Houston founded on Eastern continent between Japan and Rome.

50: Washington completed its Harbor.

90: Seattle completed its Temple.

190: Celts try to extort us again. We call their bluff, so they declare war.

260: Built embassies with Japan, Aztecs, and Rome. Also secured R.O.P with Aztecs and trading with them gems for wine.

270: Boston completed its Granary and we discovered Philosophy.

280: Atlanta completed its Granary.

290: Philadelphia completed its Temple.

320: Founded Buffalo south of Miami.

340: Brooklyn’s Coliseum finished.

380: Discovered Literature.

390: Rome attacks us for some reason. We defend Houston.

400: Washington completed its Aqueduct to make it bigger. Meanwhile, we buy Japan’s assistance against Rome for Gems and Literature.

410: Celts razed Buffalo.

420: Houston finally captured by Romans.

430: Atlanta completed Barracks.

470: San Francisco completed its Temple. (Strangely marked, “Hotel California” )

490: 17th Swordsman takes back Houston, but Rome got it back 10 years later.

510: Massive pain. Brooklyn captured by Celts.

520: Seattle completed Barracks.

540: We secure R.O.P. with Japan.

550: 2nd Swordsman makes a new leader – Lee.

560: Lee helps Boston complete its Coliseum.

590: Texcoco completed Temple.

630: 24th and 25th Swordsmen liberated Brooklyn.

640: Lots of activity at Aztec embassy. Renewing Gems for Wine deal, and ally against Celts.

700: 22nd and 26th Swordsmen take back Houston from Romans.

710: Discovered Monarchy. Despot Lincoln is killed by his own guards and everybody scrambles for power.

730: Japan decides to make peace with Rome.

740: Japan decides to end our R.O.P.

760: The Monarchy is established, under King Lincoln.

790: Washington completed its Library, while Rome captured Houston again.

800: 21st and 28th Swordsmen captured Celt village of Ratae Coritanorum.

830: Discover Code of Laws. Brooklyn rebuilt its Temple.

840: Having allied with Aztecs for the 200 years of the pact, we declare peace with the Celts. We gain 14 gold, but Aztecs end the R.O.P. Meanwhile, Texcoco completed its Barracks.

920: Syracuse captured single handedly from the Romans by the 30th Swordsman.

950: Brooklyn completed its Library.

960: Discovered Currency. And with that, we entered the Middle Ages.

What to do now? Punish Rome some more, expand my reach. Japan is in my area, but perhaps I can use that to my advantage.

 

[socralynnek]

Welcome Fergurg!

My ancient age was played rather sloppy. I didn't make notes and that focus was lacking.

Was unlucky with suicide curraghs/galleys so it was way in the MA when I had contacted all civs.
Somehow this felt harder than regent...
Also was unlucky with MGLs, I had a lot of elite wins (and surprisingly many elite losses) until I had my first. And that seems critical here.
Going for Domination as no other condition is worth the work.

 

[azzaman333]

THe AA was pretty boring for me. i had a war against the Aztecs where there was 1 battle in total, and a war against rome where i didnt fight at all. Rome and Japan were trading techs frequently, so i got them to fight each other. I also fluked a curragh to the other continent, where i started a war. I had a very early republic, which almost cripled me, but now my towns are growing and income is good. At the end of the AA, I started a war against the Aztecs, and allied the Celts. Thumbs up to Karasu for making another awesome Cotm map

My core after the Aztec War (thanks to civ assist 2) 440 AD

 

[DBear]

Initial settlement:
1 s of original location.

Tech progress:
4000 Mason+pottery (start)
3100 BW
2710 Warcode (trade)
1990 alpha
1830 wheel (trade)
1725 HB (goody)
1675 IW (trade)
1650 writing (trade)
1150 law
1000 mapping+mystic (trade)
925 philo (no slingshot)
900 lit (goody)
750 poly (trade)
570 math
390 monarch (trade)
230 currency
10BC republic (trade)
50AD construct

Towns founded:
3950 Washington
2510 New York
1950 Boston
1575 Philadelphia
1375 Atlanta
1100 Chicago
800 Cleveland
570 Cincinnati
450 Miami (on former colony so irrigationcan spread south)
410 Norfolk
250 Buffalo
110 St. Louis

Wonders:
Lighthouse in Washington 550BC
going for Gardens to kick off GA

Goodies:
3 conscripts, 2 techs, 2 gold donations

Other events:
Volcano erupts in 3050BC
Connection to Mexico discovered in 2900BC
Workers start irrigating cow in 2110BC
Iron colonies built in 1225BC
Slingshot fails in 925BC but pop lit next turn to make up for it.
Gems roaded in 490BC
Entered MA in 50AD, immediately switch to republic, getting 4 turn anarchy.

Contacts:
Aztecs 2710BC
Romans 1675BC
Japan 1650BC
Celts 1600BC
open embassies in 900BC

Wars:
Celts 390BC-
Romans 210BC-10BC

QSC stats:
score 114 Firaxis, 2614 QSC
land 71 squares, 6 towns, 1 colony
people 6 happy, 3 content, 5 sad, 1 taxman
diplo 4 contacts, no embassies
produce229 shields, 48 shields, 338 gold
units 3 workers, 1 slave, 1 scout, 2 curraghs, 2 warriors, 2 archers, 1 spear
skill 1 conscript, 5 regular, 1 vet
tech all starters +IW, writ, mystic, HB, mapping, law. 3 turns from philo @ 17/turn.

 

[DJMGator13]

I started by moving the settler south and founding on the coast. I figured this way I could build a harbor to help supply food. After a few turns I discovered the lake to the south and built my second city on the jungle tile (2N of lake). I only had to clear one jungle tile this way to get water to Washington. I built a second scout and went exploring. I meet the 4 “close” civs early and soon discovered that none of us had horses. Rome declared on me after I refused a demand. Rest of the QSC period was used to build cities. No real action.

QSC Stats
6 cities
1 granary (in Washington), no barracks
only 12 pop, but I have 3 settlers in route, 4 workers, 1 scout (another 1 got killed), 8 warriors, 2 archers, and 1 curragh (may have been 2 – 1 died at sea but may have been after QSC time)

Techs Learned (or thru trades/huts)
BW, MAS, ALPHA, POT
WHEEL, WC, CB, IW
WRIT, MYST, COL, HBR

Rest of AA
I achieved the Republic slingshot in 900BC and used TBP to revolt. I drew a 4 turn anarchy period, so in 825BC I became a Republic. My scouting paid off because I think I got 4 techs from huts, including Construction while I was finishing up Currency. I reach the Middle Ages in 410BC (up to 10 cities, pop 31, 3 libraries, 2 granaries, 2 harbors and 1 barrack).

Cities:
3950BC settled Washington
2590BC settled New York
1990BC settled Boston
1675BC settled Philadelphia
1400BC settled Atlanta
1200BC settled Chicago
1000BC settled Seattle
850BC settled San Francisco
825BC settled Houston
610BC settled Buffalo

Plus 3 settlers in route to sites